pixl-r-matic

When I’m not quilting, designing or creating I love taking pictures.  I loved taking pictures as a kid on an old box camera that had been my grandparents.  I have albums of pictures I took as a kid.

I’ve never stopped taking pictures.  Boy have things changed over the years.  Today there are such fun programs and applications that can edit and enhance photos.  I’ve been playing around with one that’s available as an app for the ipad and also an online site that you can go to and play with your photos.  I love that I don’t have to download anything to my computer to use the product.

I took pictures this past weekend at a family gathering.  My daughter had a beautiful bouquet of yellow tulips on her table.  thought I’d show you the original and a few of the enhanced versions.

original photo

 

 

 

 

 Here’s a link if you’d like to give it a try. pixlr-o-matic  Sometimes these little tweaks can really enhance a photo or add a little “umph” to an otherwise dull photo.

Hope these yellow tulips bring a little spring into your day!

Thanks for visiting!!

Blessings ~ Terri

 

Free Valentine Pattern

For me Valentines Day has always been a day to show those I love how much they mean to me.  It’s never been a mushy “couples only” day.  My Mom always made the day special for us and I’ve tried to  continued that tradition with my kids.  We’d have heart shaped Calzone for dinner, maybe some red jello and a special Valentine themed dessert.  At each person’s place, a small gift to show my love. 

If you receive my newsletters you’ve already seen this project if not ~ here we go.  Valentines Day is quickly approaching and I thought I’d share a little project with you.  I call it the “No Wilt Valentine Bouquet”.  It’s a bouquet of fabric heart “flowers”.  Make single stems to give away to special friends on Valentines Day or a bouquet for your home. 

Charm squares are the perfect size and a charm pack gives wonderful variety to your “flowers”.  Take a look~

 

 

Click HERE for the free pattern. 

Hope you enjoy.  I’d love the hear about your “flowers” when you give them a try.

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings ~ Terri

P.S.  Don’t forget that Valentines Day can be difficult for some people so be sure to look around for someone that might need a little lovin!

Spring has SPRUNG!

Spring here in the pacific northwest can be a pretty fickled time of year.  The sun can be shining one minute and the next, it’s pouring buckets of rain from big black clouds.  We’ve had way to much of the “pouring” part sooooo this morning was such a delight. 

I grabbed my camera as I was heading off to church this morning because I was going to treat myself to a little spring delight!  After church on my way through town I swung by the Capitol Mall for a few pictures.

Right now the Cherry trees are in full bloom.  They are gorgeous!  Lots of pink fluff!  Oregon’s capitol here in Salem Oregon has a large “park” like setting in front of it.  It’s called the Capitol Mall.  Many other state offices are located around the perimeter of the “Mall”.  Large sprawling lawn flanked by Cherry trees with other spring colors here and there.  A couple water features …… it’s a very pleasant place to visit with different sights and sounds through the seasons. 

This is my favorite season for this place ~

Pathways with a canopy of flowers overhead.

 

 

On a sweltering summer day these fountains are full of squealing delighted children.  Today……… a lab barking and playing in the water.

Oregon State capitol.

 

Gold covered “Pioneer Man” on the top of the Capitol. 

 

This little guy was out enjoying this spring day too!

Take time to take in the sights, sounds and smells of a new spring!

Blessings ~ Terri

Good Monday Morning!!

                                                                     
What Makes You Smile?

Here's a few thing that made me smile this morning~

~ daffodils in my kitchen window

 ~ a beautiful flower outside my window

~ primroses on the porch

~ the smell of winter daphne when I stepped outside

So now you know ~ FLOWERS ~ are one thing that make me smile!

Do you choose to surrond yourself with things that make you smile?  Why not put that positive spin on your day?  it can be such a simple thing ~  My daffodils came from good ol' Safeway when I was grocery shopping.  $3.99, I call that cheap cheer!  I bought three of these little guys and put them in my kitchen window.  $12.00 ~ cheaper than a bouquet and they will last longer!  Then if I put them in my garden they will give me flowers to pick in the coming years.  I call that a WIN ~ WIN!!

When the nurserys have the bedding plants $1.49 that's less than $5.00 to dress my kitchen window!  That makes me SMILE!

To much work and time you say ~ not at all!  I keep my eye out for containers that I can just drop the little plants into, plastic pot and all.  (I have ones that fit the 4", and 6" size containers).  I found a pot that would look nice in my kitchen and bought three of them.  They sit on my window sill and all I do is plop the plant, container and all into the pots and voila!  Instant SMILE in my kitchen!  When they get droopy I pick up three more little gems to brighten my day.  You'd be surprised what garden annuals you can bring in for a few weeks to brighten your window.  And trust me, the square little thin plastic containers the plants come in will cram into a round pot.  (Trust me, I've smooched them in!)

 

 

Please share (by leaving a comment) about what makes you smile.  We'll talk more about this in another post. 

I hope you'll think about what makes you smile and choose to surrond yourself with those "smile makers".  You and those around you will be all the better for it.

Thanks for visiting.

Blessings~Terri